Just the FAQs!

What is tapenade?Tapenade is normally (and for sure in our case) a savory olive based spread, generally flavored with a few other ingredients, and joined together by some luscious olive oil.

Is Spread-mmms vegetarian or vegan?No animal products are used in the production of Spread-mmms Olive Tapenade, Mischivous Marmalade, nor in the majority of our Sassy Savory Spreads. Audacious Arichoke Spread & Rambunctious Roasted Red Pepper Spread are the only exceptions, and they are lacto-ovo vegetarian friendly!!!

Is Spread-mmms organic or all natural?Spread-mmms uses 100% USDA certified organic lemon juice in the crafting of this delicious tapenade.

We are not certified as an organic product; however, we do not use anything funky in our spreads. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Is Spread-mmms Kosher?At this time, Spread-mmms is not a certified Kosher product. However, no animal products (meat or dairy) are included in the majority of our recipes.

Is Spread-mmms gluten-free?Spread-mmms is stealthily crafted from naturally gluten-free ingredients (no gluten in olives – right???). However, our tapenade and sassy savory spreads are cooked up in a facility where all sorts of other yummy things are made.​If you have specific gluten concerns, please send us your detailed questions and we will do our best to get you the information you need to make an informed decision about Spread-mmms consumption.

Are olives good for me?Although not a “superfood,” olives are a super good food. Olives and olive oil are regular parts of a Mediterranean diet, long considered to be a healthy option. Olives and olive oil contain monounsaturated fat, a good fat. All sorts of science and nutrition big wigs say so.

Olives are also naturally cholesterol free! Additionally, many folks talk about antioxidants and other healthy secret ingredients that olives have. If you are interested, we encourage you to investigate on your own!

Where did tapenade come from?Tapenade is Mediterranean in origin, but nobody knows for sure exactly where the first batch of tapenade was produced. The French have a claim. The name “tapenade” comes from the Provençal word for capers, which used to trump olives as the main ingredient in this ancient spread.The Italians have a claim. Olive tapenade recipes pop up in ancient Latin cookbooks and other Roman texts.And, as not to leave anybody out, maybe some other folks have a claim to being the mother of tapenade.

How do I store my Spread-mmms?Unopened, you can store your Spread-mmms tapenade or marmalade just as you would any other jarred product (jam, salsa, etc.). Once you open it, best to store it in your refrigerator. Not saying it will keep 20 years to life in your fridge, but it lasts a long time (at least until the date on the lid). Other refrigerated Sassy Savory Spreads should be cold when you buy them and kept in the 'fridge.

Am not a big olive fan, will I like this?Lotsa folks who dislike olives may actually be more opposed to the olive brine than the olive itself. Spread-mmms uses brine-free olives -- problem solved!. If you have never tried brine-free olives, give Spread-mmms a go. You might surprise yourself!

“It's actually surprising I even agreed to taste the tapenade, so firm is my aversion to olives. But I not only tasted it but I kept nibbling and nibbling it the whole afternoon. Now I'm stocking up for the holiday gift-giving and look forward to converting more olive-averse people!”-- Janet, Brooklyn NY

What are oil-cured olives?There are many ways to cure olives. Some common ways are: brine-cured (with salt, vinegar (sometimes wine)), water-cured, and lye-cured. Each of these methods either washes out some of the olive flavor or inserts other flavors (from the brine/lye).

Our olives are oil-cured (also known as dry-cured or salt-cured). In this process, beautiful black Moroccan olives are rubbed (maybe sprinkled, maybe tossed) with some salt and left to cure naturally. When they are good and ready, excess salt is removed and they are given a quick coat of oil to preserve their state of perfection.

Since oil-cured olives do not absorb other liquids during their curing process, what you get is a super intense, brine-free olive flavor.